Seeking Home-Based Opportunities

An article in The Dallas Morning News, by Christine Durst and Michael Haaren, on page 1D, in the June 24, 2012, edition, “Three Mistakes of Home-Based Job Seekers” provides a number of helpful links for potential home-based jobs:

http://www.ratracerebellion.com/google_search.html

This link allows job seekers to conduct a specific Google job search with one click!

http://ratracebellion.com

This link provides connection for work at home jobs.

http://wahm.com

This link provides job leads for work at home moms.

Other popular job links:

http://indeed.com

http://taskrabbit.com

http://craigslist.com

http://simplyhired.com

Here are a couple of points made by the authors: Do not be discouraged if you receive no reply, and do not expect to received $1,500 per day or $300 for fifteen minutes of work.  Such high pay promises are a “red flag” for a job scam.

Please share with readers of this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com if you have been successful in securing a work at home job.  

Thanks.   Glyn

Where to Go for College Graduates Jobs

An article in The Dallas Morning News, by Cheryl Hall, on page 1D, in the June 20, 2012, edition, “A Good Place for Grads” lists the top 15 US cities with job openings for new college graduates.  The variables include an optimal blend of entry-level jobs, higher starting pay, lower metropolitan unemployment, and cheaper rents for a one-bed-room apartment.

The cities on the list compiled by Apartments.com and CareerBuilders.com are Washington, D.C., New York City, Boston, Minneapolis, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Denver, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle-Tacoma, and Oklahoma City.

Of course, these are major cities in the US, so what information does the list provide?  I am wondering if smaller cities provide any job opportunities.  Further, if this list of cities for new graduates is also a list of cities for all job seekers to pursue? However, perhaps the best time to relocate is when you are accepting your first job.

Please suggest to readers your list of cities that you feel provide the best employment opportunities by commenting in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com. 

Thanks.   Glyn

Do You Have a Certificate?

An article in USA Today, by Jane S. Shaw, on page 11A, in the June 15, 2012, edition, “Boosting Paychecks without a Degree”, got my attention while traveling to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.

The article states that the bad news is that college tuition is raising and that over 40% of college students fail to graduate in six years and many of those who do graduate can’t find jobs.  The good news is that while young people continue to get a college degree some are finding alternatives that suit them better!

Among the alternatives is “certificates” – credentials awarded for vocational programs.  Specific jobs range from metal working to office management.  I have posted blogs concerning auto mechanics and truck drivers.  The article states that on average getting a certificate increases wages by 20% about what a high school graduate would earn.

I found an article posted on the Washington Monthly website, by Daniel Luzer, that provides more information about obtaining a job certificate: 

 

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/blog/job_certificates_actually_work.php

Please share your experience with certificates and finding a job by commenting in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com. 

Thanks.   Glyn

Marketing a Book

As mentioned several times in this blog, I have published a book containing over 200 of the individuals blogs that I have posted since August 2009, Getting Jobs by Glyn Jordan.  I consider this book a “bucket list entry” for me!

Now the challenge facing me and other new authors is how to market their books.  I have written blogs about brands, objectives, and strategies so I thought I could apply my own advice in marketing the book.  I received a very informative response letter from Barnes & Noble Small Press Department.  The following are excerpts from the letter:

     As you are well aware, most self-published books are made possible by print-on-demand technologies.  This efficient method of publishing enables many more writers to have their books enter the marketplace. ….

     Our research has shown us that most self-published titles sell about 100 copies, and most of those to friends and family. … In most of those cases, our store managers respond to their customers’ requests and order the title, but they never place speculative orders. …

     You should also understand that we have no bias against self-publishing. Quite the contrary. There are now more than 100,000 self-published titles available on Barnes & Noble.com (www.bn.com) and for special order in our stores.  You may be interested to know that less five percent of our sales are from best sellers.

     Your book is available for special order at more that 700 Barnes & Noble stores and online at Barnes and Nobel.com (www.bn.com).

I am very encouraged by the fast response I received from Barnes and Noble and found that my book is in fact available at a discounted price on its Internet site.

As I continue my book marketing efforts, I encourage readers to provide me marketing suggestions by commenting in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com. 

   

Thanks!

 

 Glyn

Advice for Job Seekers

Many Internet sites provide advice to job seekers.  I found these links which are sponsored by http://www.monster.com:

• Eight Tips for Job Hunting During the Recession 
• Look for Work in Troubled Times 
• Job Termination and Your Resume
• The Layoff Survival Kit
• Unemployment Insurance and You
• Laid Off? Six Steps to Manage Your Finances
• What Should You Do with Your 401k After a Layoff?
• Managing Your Layoff
• Bouncing Back After Being Laid Off
• When to Target a Lower Position 
• Is Starting Your Own Business the Answer? 

I think the secret to finding a job is to be proactive using the advice provided by websites, publications, and networking.

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com if you find these links helpful to your job search.

Thanks!  Glyn

Choosing a Franchise

As mentioned in a previous blog, there are three ways to open your own business: start from scratch, purchase an existing business, or purchase a franchise.  I personally think that starting from scratch is possibly the most difficult. 

The USAA Magazine, Summer Edition on page 20 has an informative article by Ian Mount, “Open for Business”.  While the target audience for this article is armed service veterans, I think it contains many hints for anyone considering the purchase of a franchise.  Here are some recent statistics about franchises:

Most Popular Franchises1
1.	Subway Sandwich Shop
2.	Quiznos
3.	The UPS Store
4.	Cold Stone Creamery
5.	Dairy Queen
6.	Dunkin' Donuts
7.	Super 8 Motel
8.	Days Inn
9.	Curves For Women
10.	Matco Tools

10 Best-Performing Franchises1
1.	Christian Brothers Automotive
2.	Motel 6
3.	Sleep Inn Motel
4.	Country Inns & Suites
5.	Ameriprise Financial Services
6.	AmericInn Hotels & Suites
7.	Taco Bell
8.	Baymont Inns & Suites
9.	Chicken Express
10.	Comfort Inn

10 Worst-Performing Franchises1
1.	Executive Tans
2.	Golf Etc.
3.	Mr. Goodcents Sub & Pasta
4.	Philly Connection
5.	Cottman Transmission
6.	Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe
7.	Dream Dinners
8.	My Gym
9.	All Tune and Lube
10.	Carvel Ice Cream

¹From "2011 Franchise Coleman Report." Data includes only brands with at least 50 SBA-backed loans between 2000 and 2010. "Failure rate" includes both loans charged off and those in liquidation, divided by the number of loans disbursed.

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com concerning your experience in franchising.

Thanks!  Glyn